Synopsis

Four shallow boreholes drilled in the Upper Limestone Group of Northumberland with a motorised hand-held rig indicate that the correlation of the Lickar Limestone of Lickar with the Lickar Limestone of Howick 20 miles to the south is incorrect. There is no stratigraphical, lithological or faunal evidence to support the present correlation, which requires either excessive northward thinning of the strata or the presence of an unconformity for which there is no field or borehole evidence. Correlation of the Lickar Limestone of Lickar with the Cushat (Little) Limestone removes these difficulties. It is proposed to rename the Lickar Limestone of Howick, the Howick Limestone.